Parking, littering are concerns in area adjacent to Harrington Beach Park

The limited parking at the end of Highway D adjacent to Harrington State Park in the Town of Belgium is causing problems for park rangers.

Tom Kultgen, who has been a ranger at the park since 2006, said there has been an increase in littering and complaints from people who try to use the boat launch.

“I’d like to suggest an additional sign or two that addresses the things we’re having issues with,” Kultgen said. “This last year was the worst I’ve seen as far as trash in the lot.”

There are only a few marked parking spaces in the lot and people tend to park off the road on the north and south sides of the lot, Kultgen said, which makes it nearly impossible for vehicles with trailers to turn around and launch their boats.

Kultgen said he has also noticed an increase in drinking by visitors who aren’t aware that the parking lot isn’t part of the park.

“A lot of people think that because they can drink in the park, they can drink in the parking lot,” he said. “That’s not the case. It’s still a road.”

Since the road is a county highway, the Town of Belgium may request the Ozaukee County Highway Department to put more signs in the area.

Supr. Bill Janeshek, who works for the Highway Department, said he has asked officials to put a “no littering” sign up at the parking lot, but that hasn’t happened yet.

“There used to be more no parking signs,” he said. “I think we could take a look and see if we can get more.”